Responsive Web Design
The era of the PC is over. Done. Finito. Call it a day. If you’re a professional who spends your time performing web design for small businesses – or if you’re a business seeking to stay up to date with current web design trends – this news could have a great impact. The landscape is rapidly changing.
According to recent data, PC sales in 2012 were far lower than even industry experts predicted. For the first time in more than a decade, sales for personal computers dropped by an estimated 1.2 percent. While that may not seem like a substantial figure, consider the fact that 1.2 percent translates to some 4 million fewer PCs sold in all of 2012. Does this mean that we’re seeing the end of the computer era? Hardly. It just means there’s been a dramatic shift away from desktop computer ownership, replaced by those handy dandy mobile devices you see everyone toying with in public: internet connected smart phones and tablet PCs.
What it All Means
What does this mean for web developers and small business owners? It means it’s time to start catering online storefronts to smart phones and tablet PCs because the majority of web browsers are now using these devices to read, shop, and research information. The easy answer to how this is done is by embracing responsive web design.
What is Responsive Web Design?
Simply stated, responsive web design is an approach to designing websites that responds and changes its appearance, depending on what kind of device is being used to access it. In other words, it’s not enough to simply have a website anymore that looks great on a desktop PC monitor. Businesses now have to equip themselves with an online presence that will render optimally for the smaller screens of smart phones and the higher resolution displays of tablet PCs.
What Does Responsive Web Design Do?
If you’re still not convinced that responsive web design is crucial for driving continued web traffic and boosting profitability, consider the following.
– Redesigning a website using a responsive web design approach can save time and money in the long haul. Instead of maintaining separate websites for every potential viewer – one site for standard PC users, a mobile site optimized for use on smart phones, and yet another site to take advantage of larger high definition tablet PC screens – businesses can create a central website that detects what kind of device is being used and renders accordingly.
– Responsive web design enables you to maintain consistency with respect to website URLs, which in turn can work wonders for SEO visibility. Rather than sending mobile customers to a separate mobile website, responsive web design enables you to use one central online web address, which can in turn increase a site’s search engine ranking.
– Consolidated reporting and analytics makes it easier for a company to determine if their marketing efforts need tweaking. Having separate websites makes it difficult to accurately analyze the data coming in from users. Bringing everything in under one “roof” can help a business more quickly identify what’s working versus what needs work.
For help finding experienced web developers who understand responsive web design and who can implement it on your business website, contact us today to learn more. Likewise, if you’re a web developer with experience in responsive design who wants to connect with businesses seeking your services, Artisan Talent can help you achieve improved visibility within your industry.
Vince F is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
